Chapter 29. Holding On

Flames soared in all directions. Numerous guards ran here and there to avoid the Devil Bear.

“Wow…”

Bethel, seeing the Devil Bear up close, had a dazed expression. It was understandable.

Even an Owlbear had a considerable presence, and now he was facing a Devil Bear that far surpassed it.

“Will we be okay?”

“No.”

Bethel’s eyes went wide as he looked at me. His eyeballs were going to pop out.

No, an Owlbear was already tough, so how could we be okay when a Devil Bear appeared?

It was a creature twice as strong as an Owlbear. On top of that, its weak point was the same, so the way to fight it was the same too.

“If we just dodge appropriately and buy some time…”

“You mean you run away and I dodge, right?”

“Well… that’s right? No, no. Not running away, but going to get the young lady.”

I looked at Bethel with suspicious eyes. Bethel shook his head vehemently and strongly denied it, saying, ‘No, no, I’m not.’

“Of course you have to.”

“Yes! Please believe me a little.”

“Your track record is too spectacular.”

“You said even if I run, I’ll be caught by that thing anyway. That it’ll lay waste to the village.”

“Yes. And if we dodge around to buy time, it’ll probably destroy the blacksmith’s first.”

So I had to charge in directly and catch its attention. A half-hearted imitation wouldn't do. A Devil Bear was smarter than an Owlbear, so if its interest waned, it would immediately change its target of attack. Therefore, I had to attack with all my might. If I was lucky enough to take care of it while attacking, that would be for the best. Though that was unlikely to happen.

“I can… go, right?”

Bethel asked if he could get away safely. Instead of answering, I exhaled and readjusted my grip on Brave Flame. The possibility was not important. He had to get out unconditionally and bring Adellian back. The failure to save Michelle must never happen. There was no room for compromise.

“Go and bring Adellian back, no matter what. Don’t be picky about the method. Whatever it takes.”

“Uh… yes.”

Bethel looked like he had a lot to say. It would probably be something along the lines of the order being too heavy, or what to do if she said she wouldn't come. But he, too, knew the situation, so he didn’t say anything foolish. Although it was a short time, it seemed he had felt the bond of trust woven by spending time together. He was a man who knew at least the minimum of loyalty. Perhaps Chris had also seen this side of Bethel and had not cast him out.

“When I say three, run right away without looking back.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“I’m counting on you.”

Bethel, as if he had read the determination in my face, nodded with resolute eyes.

His gaze was good. It seemed he would produce results even if it meant risking his life. And he had to.

He had to bring Adellian back, no matter what. And her butler, Klaus, who doted on Adellian, too.

‘Where Adellian goes, Klaus follows.’

If we were catching an Owlbear, Klaus wouldn’t be necessary. It would be a bit tight, but Bethel and I could manage somehow. We could also drag in the guards appropriately. But the opponent was a Devil Bear. So we definitely needed helpful combat power.

‘He’s also serving as the escort for the ducal family’s daughter. He must be at least a 2nd Circle.’

As long as he came, it would be fine. He would come filled with suspicion, but once he arrived, he would see me. Then they would feel something themselves. If not, I just had to make them feel it.

Alright! Then now…

“Three.”

“Pardon?”

I ran towards the roaring Devil Bear. Bethel, who had been bewildered, also grasped the situation and started running.

I drew out my mana. A Saga would be difficult, but it was possible to use it for combat.

Though I wouldn't be able to use it for long.

The color of Brave Flame, imbued with mana, deepened. The weight felt at my fingertips also became a bit lighter.

Here I go!

“H-help me.”

A young guard, frozen upon seeing the Devil Bear, was crying. The Devil Bear’s eyes glinted as if it had found a tasty toy. The creature raised its claws. The claws, said to be harder than steel, tore at the rock and scooped up the ground. Dust rose and obscured the vision.

“Help me! Please!”

The guard shouted desperately.

“Duck.”

Kaang!

The tip of Brave Flame trembled. Despite its considerable thickness, it seemed difficult to shake off the Devil Bear’s strength at once.

“Sob! Hic!”

The guard, unable to shake off his fear, was crying with his head in his hands.

“Hey.”

“Hic, hic.”

“Hey!”

“Yes?”

The young guard lifted his red face, smeared with tears and snot.

“If you want to live, pick up your weapon.”

At the same time as I spoke to the guard, the Devil Bear’s second attack using its claws followed.

Kang!

This time too, Brave Flame withstood the creature’s claws.

The Devil Bear, as if angry that its attack was blocked, spat saliva and let out a monstrous scream. Maybe because it had been a while since I'd heard it, my head rang and my stomach churned. If only I could use my Saga, I would want to rip its maw apart right now, but what a shame.

Ting! Ting! Ting!

A few guards shot arrows at the Devil Bear. Unfortunately, not a single arrow pierced the Devil Bear’s body.

The Devil Bear took its eyes off me and looked at the guards. The creature began to inhale.

“Fall back!”

A blue flame flickered around the Devil Bear’s mouth. The guards hurriedly tried to get away.

Kwaaaak!

Fire shot out and burned the ground. One guard who couldn't escape in time was covered in flames and rolled on the ground, screaming.

“Disgusting bastard!”

Watching the Devil Bear preoccupied with shooting fire, I readjusted my grip on Brave Flame. I swallowed my breath and kicked off the ground. Brave Flame sparkled, receiving the blue light.

Peok!

A dull sensation scattered from my fingers, to my elbow, to my shoulder, and throughout my whole body. The blade of Brave Flame was coolly striking the Devil Bear’s jaw.

“Kaak!”

The Devil Bear’s open mouth distorted hideously. The stream of fire that had been going in one direction was crushed and burned the area around the Devil Bear’s snout. Even though it was its own fire, it seemed to be hot all the same, as it scratched its face with its front paws.

“Yeeaaah!”

The young guard I had told to pick up a weapon was running over with an old spear. I held up my palm to signal him to stop.

“Uh, uh, uh?”

The guard stopped moving. It was a relief that he wasn’t clueless. If he had pushed forward foolishly, his torso would have been torn apart by the Devil Bear’s claws.

“Not a spear, a rope! All remaining men, prepare the ropes!”

Their weapons couldn’t put a single scratch on the Devil Bear’s body. It was better to get a rope on its horn or head and hinder its movement.

“Grrruk!”

The Devil Bear, having swallowed the fire, glared at me. It seemed angry at being hit.

I gripped Brave Flame and moved my position. The creature’s gaze was stuck on me and wouldn't let go.

Chwaak!

The Devil Bear spread its pitch-black wings. The black feathers began to ripple and move.

Dirt and dust swirled and obscured the vision.

Goosebumps rose all over my body. That action, from my old memories… was what it did when it was about to use its breath attack.

“Fall back!”

I grabbed the young guard and ran towards a giant rock.

The Devil Bear made a grruk-grruk sound and sucked in the surrounding air.

“N-no. Why is this!”

As the flow of air grew stronger, a few guards became greatly flustered.

“Hide! Hide!”

I shouted at the flustered guards and hid my body behind the thickest and most solid-looking rock.

Kwa-jik!

Still unsure, I plunged Brave Flame into the ground to cover my body.

The guard who had been dragged by me trembled. I gently pressed down on his head and slowly exhaled.

“It’s three minutes. Endure it even if it’s hot.”

Kwoong.

With an explosion, a fire mixed with green and blue covered the surroundings. I could hear the chiiiik sound of dirt and rocks burning. Brave Flame, stuck behind the rock, trembled. The flame was burning the rock and hitting Brave Flame.

One minute.

The thin parts of Brave Flame became red-hot.

Two minutes.

I heard three or four screams from behind me. The heated Brave Flame showed no signs of breaking or cracking. I could see why the blacksmith had been so proud.

Three minutes.

Even though the flames were scattering, their heat was considerable, so the edges of my clothes, which hadn't even been directly touched, burned. My skin was not just hot, but stinging.

Chiiiik.

As soon as the Devil Bear’s flames ceased, I grabbed the handle of Brave Flame. The sound of my palm burning was clear. The pain was also intense. I clenched my molars and swallowed it.

Because this was one of the few moments I could injure the Devil Bear.

“Geu-euk.”

The Devil Bear, having spewed out the fire it held inside, panted to catch its breath.

I raised the blade of Brave Flame. I pierced through the heat, dust, and ashes lingering on the ground and leaped into the sky.

The target was the wing!

Swish.

Brave Flame, which had been engulfed in heat, sparkled with sharpness and sliced the Devil Bear’s skin. It was possible because the intense heat had softened its skin. The wound was not deep. But it was clear. The Devil Bear, as if bewildered that its body was wounded, let out a monstrous scream and stepped back. It flapped its wings, but it couldn't fly due to the pain.

Good. I’ll show you what fear is beyond pain.

I gripped Brave Flame and moved to the side, swinging wide towards the opposite wing.

Brave Flame, cutting through the dust, emanated killing intent towards the Devil Bear’s body.

Thwack!

This time, a blunt sound echoed.

“Unpleasant bastard.”

The Devil Bear tensed the muscles in the area Brave Flame was aiming for, making them hard.

Even for a monster, it seemed to have at least a minimal level of intelligence.

“N-now what do we do?”

As I withdrew my sword and composed my breath, the young guard who had been hiding behind me asked with a surprised face.

“Gather the remaining guards and go behind that thing. With ropes.”

“And then?”

“When I give the signal, throw them.”

I raised my hand and pointed at the Devil Bear’s head. The young guard, as if he understood my meaning, nodded and started running somewhere.

Kwoong!

The Devil Bear stomped its foot. The young guard who had been running hard let out a ‘Ugh!’ and fell.

“It seems to find you annoying.”

I stood tall and shot a sneer at the Devil Bear. For something called a small disaster, its actions were trivial.

The Devil Bear stood facing me. It seemed to have realized I was sneering at it.

The creature raised its front paws, revealing its claws. It was what it did when hunting monsters of the same class. It seemed to have judged from the fact that I wasn't scared at all. That it had to kill me first, with all its might.

“Why? Does something feel strange?”

Monsters do not read and quantify their opponent’s mana. They just instinctively feel the presence of the being before them. So the Devil Bear had judged me as dangerous.

I raised Brave Flame and corrected my stance. Until now, I had been fighting it haphazardly.

Thanks to that, my mana usage was also inefficient. But from now on, it was one-on-one with the creature. Because it would charge at me solely to kill me.

‘Not Poinus style, not Leonhardt style either.’

I wracked my brain to find a suitable swordsmanship for catching monsters.

‘If only I could use my Saga… wait? Ah! That person!’

There was a wandering knight who had developed a swordsmanship to fight against medium to large-sized monsters. A knight who couldn't be hired by anyone because of his small stature. His family name was unknown. I think his name was Marian. Since no one called for him, he couldn't protect or save anyone. He couldn't just go into a battlefield either. Since he didn't belong anywhere, he was a bothersome and dangerous existence. So he was also an existence that had to be killed first.

Marian, shunned by everything, sought to write his own story by catching monsters. From small to large. Since he wasn't fighting people, a new swordsmanship was needed. The optimal swordsmanship that could conceal his small stature.

‘I just skimmed over it back then so I didn't know, but was he a woman?’

Seeing as the name was Marian, it felt that way. Anyway, it was optimal for the swordsmanship I could utilize now. Since my stature was small and the sword was huge. It was said that Marian also used a sword as big as his own body.

“Good!”

I held the sword with both hands and placed it in the center. Not upright, but pointing towards the ground. The beginning was to strike upwards at the point of collision with the monster.

“Come!”

The Devil Bear began to run towards me, roaring. Its claws became even larger than before.

I breathed slowly. I gathered my mind and focused on my Mana Heart. I took out a single grain of pure mana and moved it to the tip of Brave Flame.

Tok!

The round mana lost its shape and dyed the blade of Brave Flame with a pure white energy.

“Kuaaak!”

The Devil Bear’s monstrous scream grew closer than ever before. My vision darkened. The Devil Bear’s bulk blocked the light, and its maw tried to swallow me. Its claws borrowed the darkness to tear at my body. If it had been another monster, it would have gone as the Devil Bear intended. If it had been a guard, or an ordinary knight, it would have been so.

But the one it was fighting was me.

Kwoong!

Brave Flame drew a line and faced the sky. Light seeped in between the darkness that had filled my vision. The sharp claws scratched not my body but the empty air. The hind legs plunged into the ground created a cloud of dust and slid forward or to the side.

“Now!”

The moment the Devil Bear lost its balance, I called out to the guards standing with ropes.

They moved in perfect order and took what they deemed to be the optimal positions.

“Throw!”

The one who seemed to be the senior guard shouted. The guards threw their ropes at the Devil Bear.

“Krooo!”

As the ropes caught on its horns, beak, neck, and wings, the Devil Bear barked.

“Pull!”

The guards pulled the Devil Bear with all their might. But the Devil Bear did not fall over as they intended. It even swung its front paws frantically in preparation for my attack, taking advantage of the opening.

“Tie it to a tree! You must not let go!”

Another person shouted, seeing the guards being dragged by the Devil Bear. Some, as the senior guard had said, tied their ropes to a tree.

“Krrrruk!”

The Devil Bear breathed roughly with its mouth closed. Black smoke rose from between its closed maw. It seemed to be planning to breathe fire and burn the ropes.

“Says who!”

I imbued mana and struck the Devil Bear’s front paw. Two of its claws broke and fell to the ground. It stopped flailing, as if feeling intense pain. The Devil Bear’s chest was exposed. An opportunity was glimpsed. An opportunity to sever the creature’s life at my own hands, without the help of others. A heaven-sent opportunity that I hadn't even thought possible.

I pushed Brave Flame forward and dug deep into the Devil Bear’s chest.